Chemical feeder and sampler



A ril 18, 1939. G. RAYMOND 2,154,529

CHEMICAL FEEDER AND SAMPLER Filed Dec. 19, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 may. 1.

INVENTOR April 18, 1939. RAYMOND 2,154,529

CHEMICAL FEEDER AND SAMPLER Filed Dec. 19, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n e /?a mend.

v u f '1 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.-

This invention relates to a pumping apparatus operable incidental to movement of liquid in flow line systems; for example, the discharge of liquid from a liquid and gas separating system,

the principal object of the present invention being to provide a pumping apparatus of this character adapted for actuation responsive to intermittent or periodic flow of liquid in or from the system.

Other important objects of the invention are to provide a pumping apparatus that is readily connected to a flow system, to provide for automatic operation of the apparatus responsive to control of mechanism establishing intermittent or periodic flow, and to provide means for regulating a pumping apparatus for moving a predetermined quantity of material at each flow period.

Other important objects of the invention are to provide an apparatus of this character for etfecting automatic feed of a chemical into the liquid treated in a separator, and to provide an apparatus which may be used for removing samples of liquid discharged from a separator or similar vessel.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where- Fig, 1 is an elevational view of a liquid and gas separator equipped with a pumping apparatus embodying the features of the present invention and arranged for feeding a chemical into the flow line leading to the separator.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the chemical tank and housing enclosing the pumping apparatus and showing the door of the pumping compartment in open position.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal. cross section of the pump housing on the line 33, Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the chemical compartment, the pump compartment, and the pumping apparatus enclosed therein.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5-5,

Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a modified form of the invention, a part of which is shown in vertical section.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, I designates a flow line for conducting a stream of liquid, for example, oil and gas, to a separator 2, wherein the gas is separated from the oil and discharged through a flow line 3 55 under control of a pressure regulating valve 4.

The separated oil and liquid collect in the bottom of the separatorfor discharge through a flow line 5 upon actuation of a master valve 6, the actuation of which is controlled by a float 'l operable'on the level of liquid collectingin the separator. The float 1 includes an actuating shaft 8 extending through a suitable stufling box 9 in the side of the separator, and which carries a lever II] having a yoke-shaped head I I thereon to operate a pilot valve I2. The pilot valve I2 is of standard construction and is actuated by a rod I3 having its end projecting from the valve housing I4 to be respectively engaged by the terminals I5'and I6 of the head I I. The inlet of the pilot valve is connected with a source of pressure medium, such as the gas discharged through the flow line 3 by means of a conduit I8, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The outlet of the pilot valve is connected by a conduit IS with a pressure chamber 20 having mechanism for efiecting opening of the master valve 6 when the float has reached a predetermined height in the separator. Upon opening of the master valve the liquid flows from the separator until the float has reached a point to effect closure of the pilot valve, thereby cutting off supply of pressure medium to the master valve and effecting its closure until a suflicient body of liquid has again'collected in the separator, whereupon another charge of liquid will be delivered from the separator.

It is thus obvious that the flow of liquid from the separator is intermittent and timed in accordance with the rate at which the liquid collects in the separator.

The construction thus far described is conventional of an oil and gas separator and specifically forms no part of the present invention which has to do with the association therewith of a pumping apparatus generally designated 2|, and which is operated simultaneously with operation of the master valve, and responsive to opening of the float controlled pilot valve.

The pumping apparatus includes a shell 22 illustrated as comprising a cylindrical wall 23, heads 24 and 25, and an intermediate partition 26, the partition 26 cooperating with the side wall and head 24 to form a compartment 21 adapted to contain a chemical material for delivery to the liquid being admitted through the flow line I upon actuation of pumping apparatus that is contained in the portion of the housing between the partition 25 and the head 25. The head 24 carries a filler neck 28 wherethrough chemical is inserted into the compartment,and a gauge rod 29 wherewith the amount of chemical in the compartment may be ascertained. The lower end of the compartment 21 is provided with an outlet 30 to which is connected a conduit 3| leading into the pump compartment of the shell.

The side wall of the housing is provided with a door opening 32 wherethrough access is had to the interior of the pump compartment and which 'is normally closed by a door 33, the door being hinged at one edge of the opening, as indicated at 34, and secured at the opposite side by a suitable hasp and staple, as indicated at 35.

Inset within the pump compartment is a frame 38, including an annular ring 31 having an in wardly extending lateral flange 33 forming a seat for the periphery of a flexible: diaphragm 33. Extending over the diaphragm is a plate 43 having an offset annular flange 4| which is clamped against the diaphragm by fastening devices, such as bolts 42, extending through the flange 4I, through the diaphragm and into the flange 33. The plate 40 thus cooperates with the diaphragm to form a pressure chamber 43 to which a pressure medium is supplied through a conduit 44 having connection with the conduit I3 previously described. Therefore when pressure medium is admitted to the actuated master valve 3 pressure medium is also admitted through the conduit 44 into the pressure chamber 43 to effect movement of the diaphragm downwardly from the plate 43, for a purpose later described.

The frame 33 includes vertical leg portions 45 depending from the ring 31 and connected above the door opening 32 by a cross bar 46. The lower ends of the leg portions terminate in inwardly extending feet 41 and 43 to'which the lower head 25 is secured by fastening devices, such as bolts 49, as best shown in Fig. 4. Supported on the head 25 is a pump cylinder 33 having laterally extending bosses II and 32, in which are provided inlet and outlet chambers 33 and 34, respectively. The inlet chamber 33 is connected with the conduit 3I through a port 33 encircled by a seat 33 seating a ball valve 31 that is normally retained against the seat by a coil spring 33 bearing against the valve and against a threaded plug 33 closing the lower end of the valve chamber. The inlet chamber connects with the pump cylinder through a port 34 so that chemical from the compartment 21 may flow through the conduit 3| and past the valve 31 into the valve chamber and through the port ill into the cylinder chamber 3 l The outlet chamber 54 connects with the cylinder chamber 3i through channels 32 and 33, the latter channel being provided with spaced diflerentially sized valve seats 34 and 33 for seating ball valves 66 and 61 adapted to prevent back flow of chemical from the outlet valve to the cylinder chamber. The outlet chamber is also connected with a discharge pipe 33 through a port 69. In the illustrated instance the pipe 83 is connected with the inlet line I leading to the separator, the pipe 63 being provided with a pressure gauge ll.

Reciprocable in the cylinder chamber II is a piston 'I I, slidable through a packing ring I2 having its lower end seated against an internally extending flange I3 formed Just above the cylinder chamber, the packing being compressed in sealing engagement with the piston by-a packing nut 14 threaded in the cylinder and bearing against the'opposite end of the packing ring, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. I

The piston is connected with an actuating rod I3 extending upwardly through an adiusting sleeve II that is threaded within the opening 11 of a bossxll on the cross bar 43. The lower end of the sleeve is of suitable diameter to provide guiding support for the piston rod, and carries a head I3 provided with an annular tapered flange forming a marker 30, movable relatively to a scale 5 3| dependingly supported from the bar 46. The upper end of the rod carries a disk-shaped plate 32 arranged to bear directly against the diaphragm responsive to a coil spring 33 having one end bearing against the plate and its opposite end against the boss 13, so that the diaphragm and piston II are normally retained in retractive position. The sleeve I8 extends above the boss 13 and is arranged to provide a stop for the diskshaped plate 82 to thereby limit the stroke of the piston II when it is operated by the diaphragm. It is thus obvious that the stroke of the piston may be adjusted so as to regulate the displacement thereof by manipulating the sleeve 11 with the marker 30 according to the scale 8| to eifect displacement of specified amounts of chemical from the cylinder chamber upon each stroke of the piston.

The operation of the apparatus constructed and assembled-as described is as follows:

Oil and gas to be separated may be discharged directly from the well through the flow line I into the separator where the gas is separated and discharged through pipe 3 under control of the pressure regulator 4 so that a predetermined gas pressure is maintained in the separator to eil'ect expulsion of the liquid collected in the bottom of the separator. As the liquid collects in the separator the float rises until the arm I I is in position to open the pilot valve I4, whereupon gas is admitted through the pipes I3 and III to the master valve, and through the pipe 44 to the diaphragm chamber 43. When pressure is admitted to the master valve 23 the master valve is opened to allow discharge of liquid from the separator until the float drops an amount sufllcient to eflect closing of the pilot valve, whereupon pressure supplied to the master valve and diaphragm chambers 23 and 43 is suspended and the chambers are vented to atmosphere through the pilot valve.

Owing to the hydrostatic head of the chemical in the compartment 21 and to the suction produced by the upstroke of the piston II, the cylinder chamber 6| is kept full of chemical so that when pressure is admitted to the diaphragm chamber 43 the diaphragm is moved downwardly against action of the spring 83 to force the piston against the chemical collecting in the cylinderchamber to displace it through the outlet valves and pipe 63 to into the oil and gas stream being admitted to the separator through the line I.

It is obvious that-the amount of chemical admitted at each operation of the piston may be regulated by adjusting the position of the sleeve 13 so that a definite amount of chemical is injected into the line I whenever the master valve is actuated to discharge liquid from the separator. When the liquid has been discharged from the separator and the pilot valve moved to closed po-. sition for venting the diaphragm chambers, the spring 33 becomes effective to move the piston II to retractive position, thereby drawing in another charge of chemical to the cylinder ready to be replaced whenever another slug of liquid is dls charged from the separator.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a modified form of a pumping apparatus wherein the chemical tank is omitted and the supply pipe 34 for the pump is adapted forconnection with the liquid discharge line of a separator and the outlet 33 for 14 the pump is connected with a line 88 leading to a receptacle .8! carried in a compartment 88 provided at the bottom of the pump compartment. The remainder of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 6 is similar to the form of pumping apparatus illustrated in Fig. 4 and the same numerals designating the corresponding parts are applicable thereto.

With this construction the pump operates upon each actuation of the master valve to discharge into the receptacle 8'! a predetermined-quantity or sample of the liquid in the separator. As the pressure in the separator may be considerably above atmosphere, the pump when acting as a sampler is working down hill", 1. e. the pressure of the intake is higher than that of the discharge. To prevent the liquids blowing through, springs are used back of the balls 66 and 61 of sufllcient tension to make the discharge pressure higher than the intake pressure.

Fromthe foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a pumping apparatus that is operated incidental to intermittent flow of liquid and which may be used for injecting a chemical into the liquid, or for taking measured samples of the liquid simultaneously with each intermittent flow.

It is also apparent that the amount of fluid moved by the pump is proportional to the amount delivered from the separator under control of the float so that an accurate amount of chemical may be injected in the instance of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to inclusive, or proportionate amounts of liquid may be withdrawn from the line for sampling purposes.

35 What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a vessel, float actuated means for eflecting intermittent discharge of predetermined quantities of liquid from the vessel responsive to rise and fall of liquid in the vessel, a pumping apparatus for effecting flow of a'fluid, operating means connecting said float actuated means with the pumping apparatus, and means for regulating fluid displacement of the pumping apparatus for effecting flow of said fluid proportionately to the volumetric discharge of said liquid.

2. In combination with a vessel, float actuate means for efiecting intermittent discharge of predetermined quantities of liquid from the vessel, a pumping apparatus for effecting flow of a fluid, operating means connecting said float actuated means with the pumping apparatus, means for regulating fluid displacement of the pumping apparatus for efiecting flow of said fluid in proportion to the volumetric discharge of said liquid, and means for injecting the fluid into said liquid.

3. In combination with a vessel, float actuated means for effecting intermittent discharge of predetermined quantities of liquid from the vessel, a pumping apparatus including a cylinder having inlet and outlet connections, a piston in the cylinder for drawing fluid into the cylinder through the inlet connection and discharging said fluid through the outlet connection, a pressure actuated disphragm, means connecting said diaphragm with the piston, and means for admitting an actuating fluid to act on said diaphragm responsive to actuation of said float actuated means.

4. In combination with a liquid and gas separator including, means for conducting flow of liquid to the separator, means for efiecting intermittent flow of liquid from the separator, a pumping apparatus for effecting flow of a fluid, operating means connecting said intermittent flow effecting means with the pumping apparatus, gas supply means connectingthe separator with the operating means for actuating the pumping apparatus, means for regulating displacement of the pumping apparatus for effecting flow of said fluid intermittently with flow of said liquid from thei separator, and means for introducing said fluid into the liquid.

5. In combination with a liquid and gas separator, a flow line connected with the separator for conducting the fluid to be treated in the separator, means for effecting intermittent flow of liquid from the separator, a pumping apparatus for effecting discharge of a chemical material, operating means connecting said intermittent flow efl'ecting means with the pumping apparatus, and means connecting the pumping apparatus with said flow line for injecting said material into the fluid delivered to the separator.

6. In combination with an oil and gas sparator,

a flow line connected with the separator for conducting the flow of fluid to be treated in the separator, means for effecting intermittent flow of liquid from the separator, a pumping apparatus for effecting discharge of a chemical material, operating means connecting said intermittent flow efiecting means with the pumping apparatus, means connecting the pumping apparatus with said flow line for injecting said material into the fluid delivered to the separator, and means for controlling the pumping apparatus for regulating the amount of material injected,

'7. In combination with a liquid and gas separator, a flow line connected with the separator for conducting the fluid to be treated in the separator, means for effecting intermittent flow of liquid from the separator, a pumping apparatus for effecting discharge of a chemical material, operating means connecting said intermittent flow efiecting means with the pumping apparatus, means connecting the pumping apparatus with said flow line for injecting said material into the fluid delivered to the separator, and means for regulating displacement of the pumping apparatus for eifecting discharge of said chemical material in proportion to the volumetric discharge of said liquid from the separator.

8. In combination with a liquid and gas separator, a flow line for delivering a fluid to be treated in the separator, means for eflecting intermittent flow of separated liquid from the separator, means for introducing a chemical material into the fluid delivered to the separator, and means "responsive to intermittent flow of liquid from the separator for rendering said chemical material introducing means effective.

9. In combination with a liquid and gas separator, means for delivering a liquid to be treated to the separator, a valve connected with the separator for controlling flow of liquid from the separator, means for actuating said valve responsive to predetermined volume of liquid on the separator side of said valve, a pumping apparatus for delivering a definite amount of chemical material to the liquid, and means connecting said I valve actuating means with the pumping apparatus to render the pumping apparatus effective simultaneous with actuation of said valve.

10. In combination with a liquid and gas sepathe valve, means for supplying pressure medium to said pressure actuated means responsive to predetermined volume of liquid on the separator side of said valve, a pump for delivering a definite amount of chemical to the liquid, a pressure actuated diaphragm for operating the pump, and means for delivering a part of said pressure medium to operate said diaphragm.

11. In combination with a liquid and gas separator, means for delivering a liquid to be treated to the separator, a valve connected with the separator for controlling flow of liquid from the separator, pressure actuated means for operating the valve, means for supplying pressure medium to said pressure actuated means responsive to predetermined volume of liquid on the separator side of said valve, a pump for delivering a definite amount of chemical to the liquid, a pressure actuated diaphragm for operating the pump, means for delivering a part of said pressure medium to operate said diaphragm, and means for regulating the pump to vary the amount of chemical delivered to the liquid.

12. In combination with means for conducting flow of a liquid, means for efiecting discharge of predetermined quantities of the liquid, a pump apparatus for introducing a fluid into said liquid, a pressure medium supply for the pumping apparatus separate from said liquid, a pilot valve for controlling now of pressure medium to the pumping apparatus, and means connecting the pilot valve with said discharge means whereby said pumping apparatus is actuated responsive to actuation of said dischargemeans.

13. In combination with means for conducting flow of a liquid, a chemical pumping apparatus having a chemical inlet connected with a chemical supply and an outlet connected with said flow conducting means for drawing chemical from the inlet connection and discharging said chemical through the outlet connection to said flow conducting means, a diaphragm actuator, means operatively connecting the diaphragm actuator with the pumping apparatus, a normally closed valve in said flow conducting means, means in said flow conducting means movable responsive to a predetermined accumulation or flow in said conducting means by said valve, a diaphragm actuator operatively connected with the valve to open said valve and eflect discharge of said accumulation, a pilot valve having a pressure fluid inlet and a pressure fluid outlet controlled by said movable means, and a fluid conducting line connecting the outlet of the pilot valve with said diaphragm actuators to effect actuation of said pump and said pilot valve.

GWYN'NE RAYMOND. 

